Spring Saturday SAVY, Week 3, Molecular Genetics (5th-6th)
Thank you all for joining SAVY for the final spring session day on Molecular Genetics. Today we repeated one of our earlier experiments with strawberries. We extracted DNA from the traditional red strawberry as well as genetically modified pineberries (white). The students saw noticeable differences in the amount of DNA they were able to retrieve from the solution. In addition, the students learned why some organisms have more than one set of DNA chromosomes.
Then, we explored how DNA impacts all life on Earth. The students learned about the discoveries of Darwin and how/why he made observations about animals and plant life. These observations and discoveries allowed our scientists to learn about natural selection and the importance of DNA in life. Students tested out different types of beaks using everyday items. They had to compete against other students to collect a set of “food” to see if they would survive.
Finally, the students learned about 10 different careers in genetics, the amount of education required, the type of skills necessary, and the typical salary of each one. Thank you again for an amazing Spring session! The questions and discussions were in-depth and led to thought-provoking conversations about life and science.